IMI rejigs calender of events for 1999
IMI rejigs calender of events for 1999
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Motor Association (IMI) has
rescheduled its calender of events for 1999 due to the economic
crisis, chairman Bob Nasution said on Wednesday.
Bob said that the autosports governing body would concentrate
on national competitions, rather than the organization of
international events.
"We have decided to hold only 53 national events, a
considerable reduction from 72 events already listed in our
calendar for this year," Bob said.
The surviving competitions include, kart, motocross, motor
road race and speed off and Asian road race.
Bob said one of the scrapped international events, the Rally
of Indonesia, used to take place in Medan, North Sumatra. The
event has been included in the world championship series since
1996. This year's rally was scheduled for this month.
"The world autosports body (FIA) has indefinitely suspended
the rally due to fears about Indonesia's economic and political
situation," Bob said, adding that the country could hopefully
host the world rally championship again in 2000.
For 1999, IMI will only send drivers to international
competitions abroad.
IMI secretary general Dolly Indra Nasution said the Medan
rally was canceled this year because of fears that fresh riots
would hit Medan.
"FIA is afraid that another riot will disrupt the Medan rally
if it were to go on," Dolly said.
As to the effects of not hosting the rally, Indradjit
Sardjono, IMI's head of sports and tourism affairs, said that
hotels and restaurants in the North Sumatra capital city and
prospective participants would suffer the most.
"Because of the cancellation, the Ford team reported a US$1.5
million financial loss. The team was in Medan for one and a half
months prior to the rally. This excluded expenses incurred hiring
7,000 workers for three days," Dolly said.
To make amends for the failed rally, Indonesia hopes to play
host to the World Karting Championships next year.
"We will approach FIM (the world motorcycle governing body)
during a meeting next month to present our bid," Dolly said.
(lnt)